Districts alter LGBTQ+ policies under
Several school districts are revising policies on gender support plans and student privacy following investigations by the U.S.
Some school districts are changing their LGBTQ+ policies after sustained pressure from the Trump administration. The shifts follow more than a year of routine investigations by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and Student Privacy Policy Office.
These federal probes have urged districts to share gender support plans and related materials with parents or to curtail such documents entirely.
Topeka reaches agreement
Last week, the department announced a resolution with Kansas's Topeka Public Schools. The agreement prevents the district from creating new gender support plans. It requires sharing existing plans with parents. It also mandates teacher training on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the move in an August 25 statement, saying she was glad to see Topeka Public Schools was willing to come to the table and work with us to come into compliance with federal law. The investigation began a year prior after a tip from Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach.
Policy changes in Maryland
About a week earlier, Maryland's Anne Arundel County Public Schools adjusted its policies. This followed a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Education Department had alleged the district improperly classified gender identity information as confidential medical data.
Superintendent Mark Bedell outlined the changes in an August 19 letter. The district's revised regulations now specify that parents retain the right to inspect and review their student’s complete education record. Bedell stated no policy may limit parental rights under FERPA, including for information on gender identity or preferred pronouns.
Districts facing lawsuits
Not all districts are complying. The federal response has not been uniform.
On the same day as the Topeka agreement, the Education Department referred cases against Olathe Public Schools and Shawnee Mission Public Schools to the Justice Department. The agency said these districts failed to reach an agreement.
For Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit on September 1. This came after an August 25 determination that the district was out of compliance with FERPA and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment. U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser said the lawsuit should not come as a surprise.
Secretary McMahon stated a new era of enforcement has begun, noting that for decades, schools operated with little accountability as federal parental rights laws like FERPA and PPRA went unenforced.
Legal challenges from districts
Many districts are fighting back. This pushback marks a departure from the traditional collaborative resolution process.
Under the Trump administration, investigations have been fast-paced. They often lead to one-sided government proposals. Districts now risk litigation and loss of funding by rejecting them.
| Case | Status | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Maine (state) | Ongoing lawsuit | Justice Department sued over $864 million in federal funding related to transgender athletics policies. |
| Fairfax County & Arlington School Boards (VA) | On appeal at 4th Circuit | Districts sued Education Department after Title IX violations were alleged over facility access. |
| California (state) | Pending lawsuit | State sued Justice Department in June 2025 anticipating retaliation over transgender sports guidance. |
The first major case emerged in 2025 against Maine. This followed a public dispute between President Donald Trump and Governor Janet Mills. Virginia's Fairfax and Arlington boards separately sued last year to protect federal funding for school meals and special education. Their consolidated appeal is ongoing. California's preemptive lawsuit is also pending.
The legal landscape remains contested as federal pressure continues.
